Windows BSOD KERNEL_MODE_HEAP_CORRUPTION — What It Means & How to Fix It

Fix Windows Blue Screen of Death KERNEL_MODE_HEAP_CORRUPTION caused by a kernel-mode driver corrupting memory heap structures. This guide covers everything you need to know about this topic, including common causes, step-by-step solutions, and answers to frequently asked questions.

Here are the key things to understand: KERNEL_MODE_HEAP_CORRUPTION (bug check 0x0000013A) indicates a kernel driver has corrupted the memory heap. This is a severe error where a driver wrote to memory it should not have, corrupting heap management structures. The faulty driver is often identified in the crash dump's stack trace. This BSOD may indicate a driver bug, hardware memory failure, or incompatible driver versions. Understanding these fundamentals will help you diagnose and resolve this issue more effectively.

The most common reasons this occurs include: Buggy kernel-mode driver writing beyond allocated memory boundaries. GPU driver (NVIDIA, AMD) performing invalid memory operations. Faulty RAM causing bit flips that corrupt heap metadata. Incompatible or outdated storage controller or network adapter drivers. Identifying the root cause is the first step toward finding the right solution.

To resolve this, follow these recommended steps: Check the minidump in C:\Windows\Minidump using WinDbg to identify the faulting driver. Update GPU drivers (NVIDIA/AMD) to the latest stable release from the manufacturer's website. Run Windows Memory Diagnostic (mdsched.exe) and MemTest86 to test for RAM errors. Boot into Safe Mode and uninstall recently installed drivers to isolate the problematic one. If these steps do not resolve the issue, consider consulting additional resources or a qualified professional.

This article is part of our Windows Error Codes collection on Error Codes Wiki. We provide comprehensive, up-to-date information to help you find solutions quickly.